Hello Beauty

Hello Beauty

5 Beauty Myths Debunked

Beauty myths are often disguised as legitimate beauty tips, ones that your friend or someone you know says they have tried and swear by. From random skincare myths like being told that you will outgrow your acne to being told that shaving your hair will make it grow back thicker. These beauty myths have become embedded as commonly believed beauty tips and misinformation can spread even quicker now through social media. I have personally fallen prey to some of these. Read the 5 Beauty Myths below and see how many of them you recognise.

Myth  1:  You  Will  Outgrow  Acne

Unfortunately this isn’t true for everyone because if it were I would no longer struggle with acne. It is possible to get acne anytime in life even if you had clear skin as a teenager. For example many women develop acne during menopause. Acne can be hereditary, however for most women it is related to fluctuations inhormones. Just think about those acne flare-ups around and during your periods.Men on the other hand can technically outgrow acne because after puberty their hormones level out.

There is no magic quick fix. Having a healthy diet, reducing stress and maintaining a skincare routine all help in keeping acne at bay. If you’re finding it hard to manage your acne seek medical advice from your GP or a dermatologist.

Myth  2:  Shaving  Makes  Hair  Grow  Back  Thicker

I was told as a teen not to touch the hair on my legs because it would fall out with age. As you can imagine that didn’t happen. There is this common assumption that shaving your hair will make it grow back thicker, faster or darker. This isn’t always the case and here is why.

Hair growth is controlled by the follicle and shaving has no impact on the follicle or the hair growth pattern. The blade cuts the hair at the thickest part making the hair blunt and stubbly and it appears thicker when compared with the natural tapered shape of unshaven hair. If you do decide to shave make sure to exfoliate the skin before shaving to help diminish ingrown hairs. Shave in downward strokes in the direction of the hair, not against the direction of the hair growth.

Myth  3:  Drinking  Water  Fixes  Dry  Skin

If only it was that simple. Skincare expert Paula Begoun states “Although drinking eight glasses of water a day is good for your body, it won’t get rid of dry skin. If that’s all it took, hardly anyone would have dry skin”

Drinking water and having adequate hydration is a healthy practice, but when it comes to your skin it is slightly more complex because the extra water you take in doesn’t help with dry skin. For dry skin is it important to have a good functioning external skin barrier. This skin barrier helps to retain water in the skin. A good tip is to use humectant or moisture-retaining skincare products. Look out for products that contain hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and omega fatty acids.

Myth  4:  It's  Possible  To  Permanently  Shrink  Pores

Contrary to common belief pores do not open and close. Unfortunately if you have large pores there is no way to make them disappear although you can give the illusion of smaller pores. Pore size is determined by genetics. If you have acne pores can appear enlarged. Clear pores look smaller than clogged pores. Sun damage is also a cause of larger looking pores. The sun damages the collagen in your skin causing the pore walls to lose elasticity and sag.

In order to deal with enlarged pores you can use products containing salicylic acid or retinol as these help exfoliate the dead skin cells that line the pores. Be sure to hydrate the skin afterwards as you don’t want to dry your skin out. If your pores are noticeably enlarged you can invest in micro-needling. This is a treatment that creates microscopic wounds in the skin to help create new collagen and elastin.

Myth  5:  Skincare  Products  that  Make  Skin  Tingle  are  Good

I have to admit I have fallen victim to this one. I believed that the tingling sensation showed the product was working and doing its thing. This tingling sensation is actually a sign that your skin is getting irritated and inflamed. This sensation can actually damage the healing ability of the skin and could be a sign that collagen and elastin are breaking down in the skin, increasing the growth of bacteria.

Ingredients such as menthol, peppermint, and mint are counterirritants. These create an inflammation to help counteract the inflammation in deeper tissue. Any type of inflammation decreases the healing ability of the skin. Although your skin may not seem to show it, it adds up over time weakening the skin.